Hello
What are the pros and cons of a slingshot?
So if you have bad knees is a slingshot not a good option?
What are the pros and cons of a slingshot?
So if you have bad knees is a slingshot not a good option?
Pros and cons ???
- Thread starter bigjoey38
- Start date
I depends on how bad your knees are and how heavy you are.....I have a Slingshot and i wont kid you, It's not the easiest Machine to get in and out of... You should go to a dealer and sit in one, Get out, Walk around and sit in it again...That will give you an idea..
As far as cons, For me anyway, Wide front end so i have to be very carful pulling in and out of my garage , Also when pulling into a parking space the air dam in front will hit the curb....Also very limited storage space......
As far as cons, For me anyway, Wide front end so i have to be very carful pulling in and out of my garage , Also when pulling into a parking space the air dam in front will hit the curb....Also very limited storage space......
Good advice from Rhino. I've had one knee replacement and other aches some but you figure out what is best/easiest way for you. If your upper arms are good, you can put most of your weight on them to get in and out.
No real downside to SS as far as I'm concerned, mechanically or otherwise. No one rides with me so I have plenty of storage on passenger side for couple soft bags when I go on a trip. Otherwise, locally, the back compartments are fairly generous and easy to get to. FWIW, you can toss stuff, like gloves, shirts, etc, in the passenger floorboard without them blowing out.
Depending on your machine, you may or may not have a whinny gear drive. Its just the way they are. Give it a good test drive first; have a friend go and keep an ear out.
No real downside to SS as far as I'm concerned, mechanically or otherwise. No one rides with me so I have plenty of storage on passenger side for couple soft bags when I go on a trip. Otherwise, locally, the back compartments are fairly generous and easy to get to. FWIW, you can toss stuff, like gloves, shirts, etc, in the passenger floorboard without them blowing out.
Depending on your machine, you may or may not have a whinny gear drive. Its just the way they are. Give it a good test drive first; have a friend go and keep an ear out.
I saw a 83 year old guy get out of a SS yesterday. He used all his upper body to pull himself out. And by the way, he was having more fun than he has had in years. That's according to him. So I see no cons at all. I can't do it. I need my knees and legs and they are shot. I have to grab my jean cuff and pull my leg over the seat on my bike. My days are numbered.
bikerbillone
3000+ Posts
Cowboy, aren't you riding a Spyder now?
Not yet. The wife rides one though. In fact she just picked up a demo F3. We are trying to get it fixed up with a CB. Got all the parts now. Just need to start drilling holes and running wires.
Getting in and out
I stand on the seat , then slip in.
Back crab out, stand on seat, step out :Shrug:
I stand on the seat , then slip in.
Back crab out, stand on seat, step out :Shrug:
I have the roof...AKA Sling-shade.....All i do is hold on to the roof frame and skyhook out...
...I have the roof...AKA Sling-shade.....All i do is hold on to the roof frame and skyhook out...
That's how I saw the old man do it. Looked like he still needed leg work to make it happen. But I guess if there is will there is a way.
I'll be honest just before i dumped the Tri-Glide for the Sling i lost 43 pounds...218 to 175, That made it easy for me to get in and out...
Getting in and out of the Sling is a learning experience...But after a while it becomes second nature... :Shrug:
Never thought of the Slingshot as incentive to diet but I can see the positive side of it. I just can't see me in a car but that Vanderhall looks interesting(not to change the subject much).
Never thought of the Slingshot as incentive to diet but I can see the positive side of it. I just can't see me in a car but that Vanderhall looks interesting(not to change the subject much).
Wasn't a diet......It just came off naturally...:Shrug:...
Just some more on the Sling once you get into the throttle a little ‘ The MPG’s IE: After brake in miles will go from 31 down to 25 around town...I ‘me find it hard not to stay off the gas pedal! Good thing it has a 10+gallon tank 
... I definitely drive it much harder than I did with any of my Tri-Glide’s 
... I definitely drive it much harder than I did with any of my Tri-Glide’s New to forum but own Turbo Slingshot & Vanderhall Venice
I have custom slingshot and have done few custom things to Venice...
But heard people talking about how hard to get in and out of slingshot which I find being tall I just roll out
of it and step into it with no problem.
Now the Vanderhall is much harder to get into and out of.. You have to use your arms to push yourself up and really step
over more than slingshot.. And the interior room on a Venice is really tight compared to Slingshot.
To a point that my wife will never ride in Venice ever for how hard it is to get into and out of and my elbow during driving
is always hitting her or in the way..
Now Vanderhall is coming out with model Carmel that has few more inches between seats and has suicide doors for easier
getting in and out of..But will cost considerable more than Venice.. But both of these vehicles are automatic transmissions.
I know at 67 yrs I am just starting to have issues with right knee and wonder how much longer I will be getting in and out of
Venice more than I am slingshot.
I have custom slingshot and have done few custom things to Venice...
But heard people talking about how hard to get in and out of slingshot which I find being tall I just roll out
of it and step into it with no problem.
Now the Vanderhall is much harder to get into and out of.. You have to use your arms to push yourself up and really step
over more than slingshot.. And the interior room on a Venice is really tight compared to Slingshot.
To a point that my wife will never ride in Venice ever for how hard it is to get into and out of and my elbow during driving
is always hitting her or in the way..
Now Vanderhall is coming out with model Carmel that has few more inches between seats and has suicide doors for easier
getting in and out of..But will cost considerable more than Venice.. But both of these vehicles are automatic transmissions.
I know at 67 yrs I am just starting to have issues with right knee and wonder how much longer I will be getting in and out of
Venice more than I am slingshot.
I have always wondered how are the Slingshots in the rain? Does the water get inside the cockpit from the from wheels? :mega-shock: Over spray?
They Hydroplane in rain. If you see puddling on road I would pull over and wait out the rain.
Driving with Slingshot or any 3 wheeler in rain we may read about you.
The light weight of these vehicles they just do not get traction .
I have stated before with rear wheel in center lane and the oil slick that
if you drive you should offset rear wheel to get off center of road.
Do you get wet in cockpit yes you do.. My wife and I wore rain jacket and pants and was some what dry.
But on heavy rains with humidity I had a rag in my hand wiping inside windshield just to see every few minutes.
So you have to know what your limits of yourself and what you are willing to put up with during these conditions.
Do not ask others but when you own one only you will know your driving skills and what you can deal with.
But most will tell you to wait the rain out then continue.
I've driven in the rain too many times to count....Rain wise since i got the Slingshot its been raining every few days.... No water from the wheels, But occasionally when i smack into a deep puddle i'll get some spray .....Part of the fun of living in Wet Jersey....
..I figured Slingshots would be no better in rain than our Spyder my wife rides. Last year we got caught in a monsoon downpour where I was still able to do 65 when it let up but she had to slow down to 35 and even lower at times.
Rather scary when you are on the freeway and the fools are still passing you at 80. But they didn't fair any better as far as hydroplaning. We saw several in the ditch. We ran with our emergency flashers going for over 300 miles on that soggy ride.
Should have got a motel but we also knew our road to our house in the country could get washed out and it could be a week or more before we could get back in, so it was a home or bust kind of ride.
At least we had CB's so my wife could tell me when she had to slow down. I couldn't even see her half the time. I just wasn't feeling it on my 2 wheeler. But 3 wheelers definitely do.
Rather scary when you are on the freeway and the fools are still passing you at 80. But they didn't fair any better as far as hydroplaning. We saw several in the ditch. We ran with our emergency flashers going for over 300 miles on that soggy ride.
Should have got a motel but we also knew our road to our house in the country could get washed out and it could be a week or more before we could get back in, so it was a home or bust kind of ride.
At least we had CB's so my wife could tell me when she had to slow down. I couldn't even see her half the time. I just wasn't feeling it on my 2 wheeler. But 3 wheelers definitely do.
I figured Slingshots would be no better in rain than our Spyder my wife rides. Last year we got caught in a monsoon downpour where I was still able to do 65 when it let up but she had to slow down to 35 and even lower at times. Rather scary when you are on the freeway and the fools are still passing you at 80. But they didn't fair any better as far as hydroplaning. We saw several in the ditch. We ran with our emergency flashers going for over 300 miles on that soggy ride. Should have got a motel but we also knew our road to our house in the country could get washed out and it could be a week or more before we could get back in, so it was a home or bust kind of ride. At least we had CB's so my wife could tell me when she had to slow down. I couldn't even see her half the time. I just wasn't feeling it on my 2 wheeler. But 3 wheelers definitely do.
I had BMW RT that I drove cross country and was caught in Downpours many times and I would pass people in cars at 75 mph and I may have been pushing
limits but did not feel that way when driving in these conditions, but sure if I had hit oil or some huge puddling I may not be writing this.
But 2 wheel motorcycle with skinny tries and weight of driver /passenger evenly distributing over center of vehicle is much better than any
3 wheeler will ever be...
Actually I thought the Morgan 3 would have a better chance of not hydroplaning with skinny tires and friend out west sent me a message he and wife hydroplaned
off interstate ... They we're lucky and minor damage and did not get hurt but scared the hell out of them and was not hit by anyone spinning.
So each ride you decide how you are going to proceed but you are the one that is telling yourself how you far you are willing to push
to get to your destination..
If you are lucky you get to talk about it and others we read about..
Everything we do is a risk and we all know this.
So some seem comfortable driving the Slingshot and others dont. With todays Nanny's the safety factor should be a good warning once it does kick in to scale it back a bit.
But would really like to hear about rain/water in the cockpit..Do you get a lot of water or is it a mist? Does the front tires push the water into the cockpit or does the splash sheild seem to work for the most part?
I have to get over and test drive on some day soon
But would really like to hear about rain/water in the cockpit..Do you get a lot of water or is it a mist? Does the front tires push the water into the cockpit or does the splash sheild seem to work for the most part?
I have to get over and test drive on some day soon
So some seem comfortable driving the Slingshot and others dont. With todays Nanny's the safety factor should be a good warning once it does kick in to scale it back a bit.
But would really like to hear about rain/water in the cockpit..Do you get a lot of water or is it a mist? Does the front tires push the water into the cockpit or does the splash sheild seem to work for the most part?
I have to get over and test drive on some day soon
I get a slight mist.....And no water from the tires.....The water /rain hits the windshield and some drops down, Before it hits me...And because i have the Sling-shade/Roof the remainder gos over the roof and out back.. Before i had the roof the rain would soak me....Like i fell in a pool....
When i made the deal for the Slingshot i had to wait a week or two before Polaris had one to send to the dealer ,They are only dealer installed , No charge in ''My ''Case'' for the install and the roof...[35 Hundred dollars]
When it the traction control kicks in a light will turn on in the spedo pod.... But believe me when it does go on you don't have the time or the wits to see it...It reacts so quick..
It can with a switch in the console be turned off...I tried it both ways, I found it better to leave it on, :Shrug:..
Just like I thought..:clapping:
Great info! Seen some deals on there touring models.. Now if the Markets would come back up :afraid:
You have to understand that the Slingshot isn't for everyone....Was it my first choice' No it wasn't....But to get out of my 17 Tri-Glide [Lemon] with out any money changing hands it was the best move for me...That said i love driving it, And it can be driven fast much faster than i could with the Tri-Glide...Especially around curves....And where i would do the speed limits on local roads. Now find my self driving way over them.:shock:.:bustedcop:
Well put a turbo on it and upgrade the suspension and brakes and see how you do with keeping the speeds down...hmmmmm?
Too much power in stock form as it is....Or not enough traction at the rear wheel..If your not careful you'll be going thought tires every 2 thousand miles.. The brakes are perfect ABS and stops on a Quarter......I would have said stops on a dime, But with inflation and all it's a Quarter now....
...
Yeah I know what you mean on the TRI.:taz: Have a Spyder now and really like it..:clap: Just lurking right now and would have to test ride one or rent on for a day or two to see if it IS something I would like for long term..:gaa:
Never was happy with the stock Spyder tires and dont expect the Slingshot to be any different, since they are using the same manufacturer .
I had a Spyder [08] I managed to get 30 k on the rear, But i know most never got more than 8k...I learned from my drag racing days....Spinning tires loses races so i was easy with the throttle till i had a good roll going on..
..I had a Spyder [08] I managed to get 30 k on the rear, But i know most never got more than 8k...I learned from my drag racing days....Spinning tires loses races so i was easy with the throttle till i had a good roll going on..
Really??? What tire? We are still searching for one that gets more than 9K. On our second Yokahama S-Drive which is supposed to get better mileage but the first sure didn't. But that second tire was put on after getting the trike laser aligned and they said it was way out. So we shall see. But we are always open for suggestions for that rear tire. Wife drives the RT Limited following me and my hotrod days are well behind me. So it isn't throttle twisting that is limiting her to 9K. Got 11K on the OEM Kenda.
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